Can Hull or Bristol City raise their games to survive at the top level?

With Derby's rancid efforts this season, many an elitist Premier League git is claiming that neither Bristol City nor Hull City will stay afloat when promoted and some are even smugly chortling that they could spare themselves a lot of misery by losing at Wembley this weekend.

Obviously this claim is a lardy, wobbly, steaming pile of tripe...

Make no mistake, this is a huge event for both clubs, so to rain on their parade like journalistic Ebeneezer Scrooges is harsh indeed. I think Hull will edge it with their band of grizzled old professionals, and as a city, Hull is long overdue a guest spot at the top level - it is the biggest conurbation in Europe never to have top-flight football.

The fans, just like Derby County's passionate masses, definitely deserve their moment in the sun. With astute management both Bristol and Hull are capable of staying up - although either squad will need a major Premier League makeover; Derby and - to a lesser extent - Reading made the mistake of not splurging enough and now are both back in the vicious rat race that is the Championship.